The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of topical lavender-thymol in promoting episiotomy healing. This placebo-controlled, single-blinded, randomised clinical trial involved 60 primiparous women. REEDA score was used to evaluate the outcome of the trial. On the 7th post-partum day, women in Placebo-treated group had worse Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge and Approximation (REEDA) score of 3.93 ± 3.65 compared with those in Lavender-thymol-treated group (2.03 ± 1.7) with significant difference (P = 0.013). Visual analogue Scale (VAS) score for pain at episiotomy in Lavender-thymol-treated group was 3.5 ± 1.9, whereas in Placebo-treated group it was 2.1 ± 2.2 (p = 0.011) for dyschezia, 3.8 ± 1.7 and 2.8 ± 1.6 in Placebo- and Lavender-thymol-treated women, respectively (p = 0.023). At 7th post-partum week, dyspareunia was more severe in Placebo-treated group compared with that in Lavender-thymol-treated group (5.3 ± 2.7 vs 2.7 ± 1.5 and p < 0.001). Topical aromatherapy using lavender-thymol was highly effective, suitable and safe for episiotomy wound care with little or no expected side effects compared with that using placebo.

Dysmenorrhea is a common cause of sickness absenteeism from both classes and work. This study investigated the effect of aromatherapy massage on a group of nursing students who are suffering of primary dysmenorrhea. A randomized blind clinical trial of crossover design was used. In the first treatment phase, group 1 (n = 48) received aromatherapy abdominal massage once daily for seven days prior to menstruation using the essential oils (cinnamon, clove, rose, and lavender in a base of almond oil). Group 2 (n = 47) received the same intervention but with placebo oil (almond oil). In the second treatment phase, the two groups switched to alternate regimen. Level and duration of pain and the amount of menstrual bleeding were evaluated at the baseline and after each treatment phase. During both treatment phases, the level and duration of menstrual pain and the amount of menstrual bleeding were significantly lower in the aromatherapy group than in the placebo group. These results suggests that aromatherapy is effective in alleviating menstrual pain, its duration and excessive menstrual bleeding. Aromatherapy can be provided as a nonpharmacological pain relief measure and as a part of nursing care given to girls suffering of dysmenorrhea, or excessive menstrual bleeding.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of simulated delivery room classes on practical achievement and satisfaction of maternity nursing students. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was carried out at the maternity lab in the faculty of nursing and labor & delivery room of Mansoura university hospital. This study comprised a convenience sample of 92 female maternity nursing students out of 196 assigned to the maternity course during the first semester of the academic year 2014-2015. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups; the simulation group received simulated delivery room classes' one week pre the conventional clinical training and the control group received only the conventional clinical training. Two tools were used for data collection: the 1 st tool was an observational checklist of 20 items that was used to evaluate the students' practical achievement and the 2 nd tool was a 5 item student's satisfaction scale that was used to evaluate the students' satisfaction with the clinical experience. Results: The students of the simulation group had a highly statistically significant higher scores than the control group (46.5 ± 4.7 versus 36.9 ± 3.6 respectively; 95% CI 11.25, 7.75 & p < .001) for the practical achievement and (21.1 ± 3.8 versus 11.2 ± 3.3 respectively; 95% CI 8.396, 11.331 & p < .001) for the students' satisfaction with the clinical training experience. Conclusions: These study results pointed out that the simulation classes is an effective training method for enhancing the students' practical achievement and satisfaction. Thus, providing the maternity students with simulated delivery room classes prior the conventional clinical training is recommended.

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Objective: This study aims to assess effect of preoperative vaginal cleansing using chlorhexidine antiseptic on post cesarean section infectious morbidity. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on a random sample of 178 singleton term pregnant woman assigned for elective cesarean section. A simple random sample was recruited from the operating room of Obstetrics and Gynecology department, Zagazig University Hospitals-Egypt. Participants were randomly assigned either to conventional care group or study group. The conventional care group was exposed to the usual abdominal scrub with Povidone-iodine solution; while the study group subjected to vaginal cleansing using chlorhexidine antiseptic solution in addition to conventional preoperative care. Data were collected using an assessment sheet for demographic and clinical data and checklist for study outcomes. Results: Post intervention, assessment of the incisional wound revealed lower overall post cesarean section infectious morbidity rate among study group compared to those received conventional care (9.0% vs. 20.2% respectively; χ 2 = 4.50, p = .034). Endometritis rate was significantly lower among the study group subjects equated to those of the conventional care group (2.2% vs. 10.1% respectively; χ 2 = 4.75, p = .029), meanwhile febrile morbidity and surgical site infection rates showed non-significant reduction in favor to the study group subjects (p = .469 and .700 respectively). Conclusions: Preoperative vaginal cleansing using chlorhexidine was an effective practice for reducing post cesarean infection; where overall post cesarean infectious morbidity rate was lower among postpartum mothers subjected to vaginal cleansing compared to those exposed to conventional care alone; supporting the study hypothesis.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of subcutaneous sterile water injection at the lumbosacral region on labour back pain. Methods: A quasi-experimental, pre/post test design was utilized to carry out this trial at the Labour and Delivery room, Mansoura University Hospital, Egypt. Sixty three primiparous in spontaneous active labour, indicated a low back pain ≥ 7 on numeric pain rating scale, and expected to have spontaneous vaginal delivery were included in this study as a one study group. Participants had received 4 subcutaneous sterile water injections of 0.1 ml at the lumbosacral region for once. Using three tools data were collected; the 1st was a structured interviewing questionnaire schedule to assess the participants basic characteristics, the 2nd was the numeric pain rating scale to evaluate the baseline pain intensity changes at ten minutes, one, two and three hours post injection, while the 3rd tool was the 5-points Likert scale for mother's satisfaction with the pain relief. Results: The baseline pain score was 8 ± 0.8. It was reduced by 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, and 5 points at 10 minutes, one, two, and three hours post injection respectively. Strong satisfaction with the used method for pain relief was reported by 87.3% of the mothers, while only 3.2% were dissatisfied. Conclusions: It can be concluded that subcutaneous sterile water injection is an effective labour back pain relief method. This leading the investigators to recommend; raising the awareness of the labour and delivery nurses about this method in order to implement it in practice.

Objective: This study aimed to compare effect of applying centering pregnancy model (CPM) versus individual prenatal care on certain prenatal care outcomes. Methods: A quasi experimental research design was followed. A purposive sample of 216 pregnant women without medical or obstetric problems requiring individualized care, was recruited from the Antenatal Outpatient Clinics of Mansoura University Hospitals, Egypt. Participants were randomly assigned to receive prenatal care under CPM or individual prenatal approach. Data were collected for the healthy behaviors adoption using Pregnancy-relevant Health Behaviors scale, women's extent of troubling about pregnancy physical discomforts using a Pregnancy Symptoms Distress scale, and women's satisfaction with prenatal care using Patient Participation & Satisfaction Questionnaire. Results: Post-intervention, CPM group equated to individual care group experienced lower distress about experienced pregnancy physical discomforts (8.06 ± 2.40 vs. 15.42 ± 3.84 respectively; t = 16.89 & p < .001), reported higher engagement to pregnancyrelevant health behaviors (37.71 ± 2.91 vs. 29.78 ± 4.3 respectively; t = 15.59 & p < .001), and higher satisfaction with and participation in care (80.8 ± 10.4 and 63.8 ± 11.1 respectively, t = 11.62 & p < .001). Conclusions: Hypotheses of the current study were accepted where CPM of prenatal care was associated with increased women adoption to the pregnancy-relevant healthy behaviors, reduced women distress about the experienced pregnancy physical discomforts and increased women participation and satisfaction about prenatal care.

Aim: to explore the utilization of ginger and its effect on relieving the chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting among patients with gynecological cancer. Methods: An quasi-experimental research design was utilized to conduct this study on 132 patients attended the oncology center of Mansoura University Hospital between January 2013 to December 2013 for chemotherapy for a gynecologic tumor. The study sample served as a one arm intervention group. Data were collected using three tools; the 1st tool was an interview questionnaire to assess the general characteristics of the patients, the 2nd tool was the Rhodes Inventory of Nausea, Vomiting and Retching (INVR) to assess the level and severity of nausea and vomiting experienced before and after the chemotherapy and the 3rd tool was the woman's follow up card to assess the patient's compliance with the ginger tablets. Results: The baseline total Rhodes Index score was significantly decreased after receiving the assigned dose of Ginger tablets (63.8±5.3 at base line and 60.6±4.9 at end of the study P<0.0001). Conclusion: Ginger tablets are effective in reducing the chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. Key word: Ginger tablets, chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, gynecologic tumor, Rhodes Inventory of nausea and vomiting. Research hypothesis Women on chemotherapy for gynecologic tumors who consume Ginger tablets exhibits lower score of Rhodes for nausea and vomiting after receiving the treatment. Subjects and Method Research design: An quasiexperimental research design was utilized.